Resilience of Vascular Epiphytes to the Effects of Anthropization in the Djapadji Enclave

The intensification of agricultural activities has led to a conversion of natural vegetation into fallow land and plantations in the Djapadji enclave. This study is therefore initiated to analyze the reactions of epiphytes to changes in land use, taking into account local microclimates. To achieve this objective, the diversity of epiphytes was characterized in the different biotopes of the Djapadji enclave. The floristic inventories made it possible to identify 16 species of vascular epiphytic plants in the study area. In the cocoa plantations, 12 epiphytic species were identified. Then, 11 epiphytic species were observed in the fallow land. Finally, 8 epiphytic species were collected in the rubber plantations. Of all the collections, the most diverse families are the Polypodiaceae represented by four epiphytic species: <i>Microsorum punctatum</i>, <i>Phymatodes scolopendria</i>, <i>Platycerium angolense</i> and <i>Microgramma owariensis</i>. The Orchidaceae are represented by <i>Ancistrorhynchus capitatus</i> and <i>Solenangis Scandens</i>. The Euphorbiaceae are also represented by two species: <i>Alchornea cordifolia</i> and <i>Croton hirtus</i>. Observations show that the crown area of the host trees influences the abundance of epiphytes. Trees whose branches cover a large horizontal surface have a greater tendency to shelter epiphytes. The Taï National Park, adjacent to the study site, also acts as a seed bank for the inventoried epiphytes. Given the ecological requirements of these epiphytes, it is appropriate to anticipate the degradation of their forest habitats in order to perpetuate them.